I am indifferent to jet noise on Whidbey Island. I reject the idea that it is linked in any way to American rights and freedoms.

With all this talk of freedom- would it be OK to grow a marijuana plant in the back yard?

Can I take my 20 year old girlfriend (a responsible adult) down to the bar to order up a few beers for freedom?

Should we check with the Joint Chiefs of Staff first?

The Dept. of Defense was nowhere to be found on 911. We haven’t won a war since.

Never Forget:

The US Armed Forces were irrelevant in defending American rights and freedoms, our physical security, & The Constitution on 911.

Ditto for all other federal agencies and departments.

In some cases, the US Armed Forces provide for our physical security. That’s as good as it gets.

In terms of American rights and freedoms- The Dept. of Defense has no more say than the Dept. of Agriculture.

Legal marijuana, concealed carry of handguns, semi automatic rifle sales, federal minimum drinking age, bump stock ban, interracial marriage, gay marriage, tobacco sales, voting rights, etc. None of these are linked in any way with The Joint Chiefs of Staff, The Troops, The Dept. of Defense or the outcome of military operations overseas.

As the decades of undeclared/unwon wars stack up (The Department of Defense track record goes back to 1949.) the greater the cultural urge to glorify people who do, or did time in uniform.

If there is an honest reason to send people away into decades of undeclared/unwon wars overseas let’s hear all about it.

Maybe you saw this “surprise military homecoming” on twitter. I was watching on TV when it happened at Safeco Field. Somehow the Mariners PR dept, surely with the complicity and generous financial support of the US Military, continues to turn brave and loyal soldiers and their devoted families into cheap show ponies to make us all cry and feel good about ourselves for supporting the troops, instead of asking why we have those brave young people risking their lives all over the world for #freedomandshitIguess …

Each month, she would send a bouquet of roses back home from Kuwait. Tonight, she delivered them in person.